Two-piece protective suit for hazardous environments

ABSTRACT

A two-piece protective suit for use in hazardous environments includes a coat and trousers each of which includes an outer garment and a removable liner, the outer garment including an outer shell made of a flame protective material and an inner layer of a material which is moisture resistant and resistant to the passage of hazardous chemical and/or biological agents and liquids, the coat including a bottom closure mechanism to tighten the bottom of the coat towards the waist of a wearer and inhibit hazardous material entry in the coat from below, left and right cuff closure mechanisms to tighten the left and right cuffs towards the left and right arms of a wearer and inhibit hazardous material entry into the left and right sleeves, and a hood and neck tab which are deployable over the head and neck of a wearer and over a face mask worn by the wearer to protect the head and neck of a wear from the hazardous materials and inhibit entry into the coat through its neck opening.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/600,833, filed Aug. 12, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to protective clothing for use inhazardous environments, and in particular to protective suits for use inenvironments which not only may contain smoke, soot and heat from a firebut also harmful chemical and/or biological agents.

2. The Prior Art

Protective clothing for use by first responders (EMS, fire and rescuepersonnel, hazmat and public health personnel, etc.) is commonlyavailable. In order to meet the requirements of various mandatedstandards, such clothing is commonly in the form of coordinated coatsand trousers which include a layer of material resistant to flames and alayer of breathable moisture barrier material to help keep the wearerdry. They also may contain a liner of a thermal material to protect thewearer from the heat of a fire. Such suits are easy to put on as thewearer can don the trousers first (possibly by stepping into them as thewearer steps into boots) and then put on the accompanying coat. However,such known two-piece suits have not been tailored to prevent ingress ofenvironmental air together with particles (smoke and soot) or vapors(carbon monoxide, etc.) which may be contained therein, because exposureof a wearer's skin to these materials has not been considered hazardous(the wearer will be breathing using a face mask of an SCBA air supplyapparatus). Thus, for example, although the coat will overlap the top ofthe trousers, a gap will be present therebetween through whichcontaminated air can pass upwardly into the interior of the coat.

One-piece protective suits for use by workers dealing with radioactiveor hazardous chemical or biological materials are known, these suitsbeing made of impermeable materials and designed to extend around thefeet (and footwear), torso, arms and head of a wearer so as tocompletely insulate the wear from the surrounding environment. However,such suits, if used in a hot environment near a fire, will quicklybecome very hot inside, and they are exceeding cumbersome to put on.One-piece suits of this type are not considered acceptable for use bypeople such as first responders who typically must don protectiveclothing in great haste and who may need to function in high temperatureenvironments, i.e., near fires.

A need exists for a two-piece protective suit which can be donned in thesame way that protective suits can be donned currently but which isconstructed to protect the wearer from hazardous environmental materialssuch as airborne smoke, soot, hazardous chemical and biological agents,as well as hazardous liquids, for a period of time sufficient tocomplete desired activities such as fire fighting and/or rescueoperations. We have invented such a protective suit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly to this invention, a two-piece protective suit includes acoat and trousers, each of which includes an outer garment provided byan outer shell of flame-resistant material and an inner barrier layerlacated therein, the inner barrier layer being made of a breathablematerial that resists passage of moisture, hazardous chemical and/orbiological agents, and liquids. The coat includes a bottom closuremechanism which, after the coat has been donned, can be manuallyactivated to tighten the coat bottom toward the torso of a wearer andagainst the waist collar of the trousers of the suit to thereby inhibitentry of hazardous environmental materials upwardly into the coat.

The coat also includes a hood and throat tab which can be manuallydeployed over the head and neck of a wearer and around a face mask of anSCBA apparatus worn by the wearer to thereby inhibit hazardousenvironmental materials from contacting the head and neck of a wearer orfrom passing downwardly into the closed coat through its neck opening.

The coat of the two-piece protective suit also includes cuff closuremeans at the ends of its sleeves which can be manually activated totighten the cuffs around the wearer's arm and onto gloves worn by thewearer to thereby inhibit entry of hazardous environmental materialsupwardly into the sleeves.

The trousers of the two-piece protective suit includes cuff closuremeans at the bottoms of its legs which can be manually activated totighten the leg bottoms towards the wearer's legs and against boots wornby the wearer to thereby inhibit hazardous environmental materialsentering upwardly into the legs of the trousers.

In a preferred embodiment, each of the coat and the trousers can includea removable inner liner of a thermal material within the outer garmentthereof. In one embodiment the lower portions of the legs of theremovable inner liner of the trousers can be made of the same materialas that of the inner barrier layer of the outer garment, and can includeboot straps for placement inside of boots to facilitate donning of thetrousers.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the attacheddrawings, taken in conjunction with the following discussion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a protective coat of a two-piece protectivesuit according to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the coatbeing shown in a partly opened state and its front pouches partiallybroken away to show elements of its bottom closure mechanism,

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the front of the coat of FIG. 1 asseen along line 2-2 therein,

FIG. 3 is a front view of the coat of FIG. 1 when in a fully openedstate, portions of its collar and inner side flaps being broken away toillustrate underlying elements,

FIG. 4 is a front view of the removable thermal liner when in a fullyopened state,

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the collar of the removable thermalliner of FIG. 4 as seen along line 5-5 therein,

FIG. 6 is a front view of the outer garment of the coat of FIG. 1 whenin a fully opened state, a portion of its protective liner being brokenaway to illustrate underlying elements,

FIGS. 6 a, 6 b, 6 c and 6 show plan views of the back, front (right andleft) and upper and lower sleeve, patterns for the outer shell of FIG.1,

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the outer garment of FIG. 6 as seenalong line 7-7 therein,

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the outer garment of FIG. 6 as seenalong line 8-8 therein,

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional vie of the front of the coat of FIG. 1 asseen along line 9-9 therein (not including any portion of the leftpouch),

FIG. 10 is a view of FIG. 9 as seen along line 10-10 therein,

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of the elements of the bottom tighteningmechanism of the coat of FIG. 1,

FIG. 16 is an enlarged perspective view of the cuff of the left sleeveof the coat in FIG. 1, the outer garment being broken away to illustratethe cuff tightening mechanism,

FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view of the cuff of FIG. 12 as seen alongline 17-17 therein,

FIG. 12 is a rear view of collar of the coat of FIG. 1,

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view of the collar of FIG. 14 as seen alongline 13-13 therein,

FIG. 14 is a rear view of the collar of FIG. 13 with the protective hoodand throat tab stored therein partially deployed,

FIG. 15 is a front view of the coat of FIG. 1 with its protective hoodand throat tab operatively deployed over the head and neck of a wearerand the face mask of an air supply apparatus worn by the wearer,

FIG. 18 shows a front view of trousers of the preferred embodiment ofthe two-piece protective suit according to the present invention, thebottom of the coat of FIG. 1 being depicted around the waist portion ofthe trousers,

FIG. 19 shows a top perspective view of the waist portion of thetrousers of FIG. 18,

FIG. 20 shows a rear view of the waist portion of the trousers of FIG.18,

FIG. 21 shows a cross section of the waist portion of the trousers ofFIG. 19 as seen along line 21-21 therein,

FIG. 22 is a view of an upper portion of the outer garment of thetrousers of FIG. 18 with the waist portion opened up for illustration ofits interior elements,

FIG. 23 is a cross section of the waist portion of the outer garment ofFIG. 22 as seen along line 23-23 therein,

FIG. 24 shows a bottom perspective view of the cuff of the left leg ofthe outer garment of the trousers in FIG. 18,

FIG. 25 shows a cross section of the cuff of FIG. 24 as seen along line25-25 therein,

FIG. 26 shows the removable liner of the trousers of FIG. 18, and

FIG. 27 shows an alternative embodiment of removable liner that can beused in the trousers of FIG. 18.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment of a two-piece protective suit according to thisinvention is shown in FIGS. 1-26, the coat thereof being shown in FIGS.1-17 and the trousers thereof being shown in FIGS. 18-26. FIG. 27 showsan alternative embodiment of removable liner that can be used in theouter garment of the trousers.

The coat, generally labeled 10 in FIG. 1, includes an outer garment 20(shown separately in FIG. 6) and a removable liner 200 (shown separatelyin FIG. 4). The outer garment 20 is formed of an outer shell 30 made ofa conventional flame-resistant material used in firefighter's clothing,and an inner barrier layer 130 made of a breathable moisture barriermaterial that resists passage therethrough of hazardous chemical andbiological agents in the form of aerosols, vapors or liquids. A suitablebarrier material of this type is Crosstech® moisture barrier made byW.L. Gore & Associates of Newark, Del., or more preferably Stedair® 5000barrier material made by the Stedafst Company of Quebec, Canada. As willbe appreciated by the ensuing description, the inner barrier layer 130can be attached to the outer shell 30 by being at least in part sewn tothe peripheral edges of the outer shell.

Referring first to the removable liner 200, which is made of a layer ofthermal material connected to a layer of moisture-resistant material byquilt stitching, it defines a back panel 201 (see FIG. 4), a left frontpanel 203 defining a side edge 204, a right front panel 206 defining aside edge 207, a left sleeve 209 terminating at a left wristlet 210, aright sleeve 211 terminating at a right wristlet (not shown), and acollar 212 attached to the inside surface of the back and front panelsat their upper edges by stitching 213 (see FIG. 5). A strip 214 of loopfasteners is attached by the stitching 213 to the inside surface of thecollar 212. A zipper half 205 is attached to the inside surface of theleft front panel 203 near its side edge 204 and a zipper half 208 isattached to the inside surface of the right front panel 206 near itsside edge 207. The zipper halves 205 and 208 and the strip 214 of loopfasteners can connect to elements of the outer shell 30 of the outergarment 20 as will be referred to below. The ends of sleeves 209 and 210include fastening snaps 215 on opposite sides thereof to connect withfastening snaps 146 on the inside of the respective sleeves of the outergarment 20 (see discussion below).

Turning now to the outer shell 30 (see FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 12), itincludes a back panel 40, a left front panel 50, a left front pouch 60,a right front panel 70, a right-front pouch 80, a left sleeve 90, aright sleeve 100, and a collar 110. Upper and lower horizontalreflective strips 30 a and 30 b are attached to the outer shell foridentification purposes (reflective strips 30 c are attached to the leftand right front pouches 60 and 80 in alignment with the reflective strip30 b).

The back panel 40, which is depicted in pattern form in FIG. 6 a,defines an upper edge 41 (see FIG. 12) which is attached to center strip111 of collar 110 (see discussion of collar 110 below). It also definesa bottom edge 42 (see FIGS. 6 and 8). It includes vertical pleats (notshown) adjacent to where the sleeves 90 and 100 are connected thereto toprovided enhanced ability for the sleeves to be extended forwardly(“action back”).

The left front panel 50, which is depicted in pattern form in FIG. 6 b,defines an upper edge 51 (see FIG. 12) which is attached to the centerstrip 111 of collar 110 (see FIG. 13), a bottom edge 52 (see FIG. 1),and a side edge 53. As shown in FIG. 2, the inner barrier liner 130extends to side edge 53 and is connected thereto by stitching 131. Aninner flap 54 is also attached to the side edge 53 by stitching 131, asis a zipper half 55. The upper end of the inner flap 54 is attached tothe inner flap 113 of collar 110. A zipper half 56 is connected to afree edge of inner flap 54 by stitching 57. This zipper half 56 connectswith zipper half 205 at the side edge of the left panel 203 of thethermal liner 200 when the removable thermal liner is installed insidethe outer garment 20.

The right front panel 70 (same pattern as shown in FIG. 6 b), defines anupper edge 71 (see FIG. 12) which is attached to the center strip 111 ofcollar 110, a bottom edge 72 (see FIG. 1), and a side edge 73. As shownin FIG. 2, the inner barrier liner 130 extends to the side edge 73 andis connected thereto by stitching 132. Stitching 132 also connects aninner flap 74 to the side edge 73 and a zipper half 76 to its outersurface. The zipper half 76 is engageable with the zipper half 55 by aslider S (see FIG. 1) in order to connect the side edges 73 and 53 andthereby close the coat 10. The free edge of inner flap 74 mounts azipper half 75 which is engageable with the zipper half 208 at the sideedge of the right panel 206 of the thermal liner 200 when the thermalliner is installed inside the outer garment 20. The upper end of theinner flap 74 is attached to the inner flap 113 of the collar 110.

The left front panel 50 also includes an outer flap 58 which is attachedby stitching 58 a to the left front panel near side edge 53 and a strip59 of hook fasteners. The right front panel 70 also include an outerflap 77 which is attached by stitching 77 a to the right front panelnear side edge 73 and a strip 78 of loop fasteners. The strip 78 of loopfasteners can engage the strip 59 of hook fasteners to overlay thezipper halves 76 and 55. The outer flap 58 includes a free portion 58 bwhich can be folded into a U-shaped cross section (see FIG. 2) when thestrips 78 and 59 are engaged to help prevent passage of hazardousmaterials into the front of the coat 10.

FIGS. 6 c and 6 d depict patterns of upper and lower portions of sleeves90 and 100, which are stitched together and to the patterns shown inFIGS. 6 a and 6 b to form the outer shell 30 (not including pouches 60and 80 or reflective strips 30 a or 30 b).

Due to the configuration of the patterns used to form panels 40, 50 and70 and sleeves 90 and 100, the coat 10 will be in a relaxed (unbiased)state when the sleeves 80 and 90 are extended horizontally forwardly,unlike conventional coats wherein the relaxed state is when its sleevesare hanging downwardly.

As can be understood from FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the inner barrier liner 130extends downwardly to the bottom edge 52 of the left front panel 150 andis attached thereto by stitching 133. The inner barrier layer 130 islikewise stitched to the bottom edge 72 of the right front panel 170.However, as seen in FIG. 8, the bottom edge of the inner barrier layer130 adjacent the bottom edge 42 of the back panel 40 is attached to afastening strip 134 of hook fasteners by stitching 135, while the bottomedge of back panel 140 is attached to a fastening strip 43 of loopfasteners by stitching 44. These fastening strips 134 and 43 can bepulled apart when desired to inspect for damage or foreign substancesbetween the outer shell 30 and the inner barrier layer 130.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 show an upwardly-extending strip 201 attached bystitching to the bottom edges of the panels 40, 50 and 70. This strip201, which is made of the same material as the inner barrier layer 130,extends laterally from behind the left pouch 60, around the back of thecoat to behind the right pouch 80, and defines a channel 202 along itsupper edge. A stretch cord 203 extends through the channel 202 as partof the bottom closure mechanism of the coat as will be discussed below.

The left pouch 60 is attached to the left front panel 50 by stitching61, 62 and 63 along its respective upper, lower and right sides, leavingits left side open to provide a pocket between the left pouch and theleft front panel 50. The right pouch 80 is likewise attached to theright front panel 70 by stitching 81, 82 and 83 along its respectiveupper, lower and left sides, thus leaving its right side open to providea pocket between the right pouch and the right front panel 70. Attachedby an anchor 205 to the left front panel at the lower right corner ofthe pocket behind left pouch 60 is a releasable friction clamp 204 (seeFIGS. 9 and 10). One end of the cord 203 extends from channel 202 in thestrip 201 behind the pouch 60 through a hold in the left front panel(and the lower reflective strip R2) into the pocket behind the leftpouch 60 and through the releasable friction clamp 204. Attached by ananchor 207 to the right front panel at the lower left corner of thepocket behind the right pouch 80 is a releasable friction clamp 206. Theother end of the cord 203 extends from channel 202 in the strip 201behind the pouch 80 through a hole in the right front panel 70 (and thelower reflective strip R2) into the pocket behind the right pouch 80 andthrough the releasable friction clamp 206. Pulling on the ends of thecord 203 will cause the channel 202 to tighten against the inner barrierlayer 130 and press it inwardly toward the wearer of the coat (andtoward a waist collar of trousers worn by the wearer as shown in FIG.18). These elements 201-207 provide a coat bottom closure mechanism 200which can inhibit upward entry of hazardous materials into the closedcoat 10.

As seen in FIG. 13, the collar 110 includes a center panel 111 which isstitched to the upper edges 41, 51 and 71 of the back, left front andright front outer shell panels 40, 50 and 70, and extends to aperipheral edge 112. The inner barrier layer 130 extends up to theperipheral edge 112 and is sewn thereto. An inner flap 113 is attachedto the peripheral edge 112 and hangs downwardly on an inner side of thecenter panel 111. A strip 114 of hook fasteners is attached to theinside lower edge of the inner flap 113. This strip 114 is engageablewith the strip 214 of loop fasteners on the thermal liner 200 so thatthe collar 212 thereof will extend upwardly between the inner flap 113and the inner barrier layer 130. An outer flap 115 is attached to theperipheral edge 112 and hangs downwardly on an outer side of the centerpanel 111 to form a hood storage space 118 therebetween. The outer flapmounts a plurality of spaced segments 115 of hook fasteners on an innerside for attachment to a corresponding plurality of spaced segments 117of loop fasteners attached to the back of hood 120. This hood 120 ismade of the same material as the inner barrier layer 130. A throat tab126 which can be positioned over a face mask 15 of an SCBA apparatusworn by a wearer (see FIG. 15) is attached to a side of the hood. Thethroat tab 126 extends between the face mask 300 and the front panels50, 70 of the outer shell 30, and it includes a fastening strap 127 forconnection to a fastener strip 128 on the back of hood 120. The frontedge of the hood 120 defines a channel 122 through which a stretch cord12 extends, the stretch cord also ending through releasable frictionclamps 124 and 125 connected to opposite sides of the hood. Manualstretching of the cord 123 will press the front edge of the hood towardsthe forehead of a wearer and against a face mask 15 of an SCBA apparatusworn by the wearer to reduce the possibility of hazardous materialcontacting the head of a wearer and passage past the face mask 300 intothe neck opening of the coat. A pull tab 12 is attached to the hood 120to facilitate deployment thereof out of the hood space 118.

FIG. 16 depicts a cuff at an end of the left sleeve 90 of the coat inFIG. 1 (the cuff at the end of the sleeve 100 is a mirror image). Theinner barrier layer 130 extends to the end 91 of the sleeve 90 and isstitched thereto by stitching 135. A flexible tubular element 140 madeof the same material as the inner barrier layer is connected at end 91by the stitching 135 and it surrounds the wristlet 210 attached to theend of the associated sleeve portion 209 of the detachable liner 200.The tubular element 140 defines a channel 141 through which a belt 142extends. The belt includes a first end fixedly attached to a buckle 143,extends through the channel 141, and then through the buckle 143 to asecond end mounting a fastening strip 144 which is engageable with afastening strip 145 on the outer side of the tubular element 140 tosecure the belt once tightened through the buckle. Pulling the belt 142through buckle 143 will cause the tubular element 140 to tighten towardsthe arm of the wearer and cause it (or wristlet 210) to be positionedaround a glove worn by the wearer. These elements 140-145 provide a cuffclosure mechanism which can reduce the possibility of hazardous materialpenetrating into the interior of the left sleeve. Straps 146 havingfastening snaps 147 are connected to the opposite sides of the tubularelement 140 (only one shown in FIG. 16) to connect with the fasteningsnaps 215 at the ends of the sleeves 209 and 210 of the removablethermal liner to hold the sleeves in place within the outer garment. Amirror image cuff closure mecanism is proved at the cuff of the rightsleeve 100.

FIGS. 18-26 depict trousers of the preferred embodiment of two-pieceprotective suit according to this invention. The trousers, generallylabeled 300 in FIG. 18, include an outer garment 320 (shown separatelyin FIG. 22) and a removable liner 500 (shown separately in FIG. 26). Theouter garment 320 is formed of an outer shell 330 made of a conventionalflame-resistant material and an inner barrier layer 430 made of the samematerial as inner barrier layer 130 of coat 10.

The removable liner 500 includes a waist band 501 having spaced snapstuds 502 mounted thereon, a hip portion 503, a left leg 504 and a rightleg 505. Two snap fastener studs 506 are mounted at the bottoms of thelegs 504 and 505 (only the snap fastener studs at the bottom of the leftleg 504 are shown in FIG. 26). The snap fastener studs 502 and 506 mountthe removable liner 500 inside the outer garment 320.

As seen in FIGS. 18 and 22, the outer shell 330 includes a waist portion331 mounting left and right belt portions 332 and 333, three fabricstrips 334, 335, and 336 sewn to an upper edge 331 a of the waistportion to provide a waist collar, a hip portion 337, a left leg 338 anda right leg 339. Sewn to the upper edge 331 a of the waist portion 331is an inner band 340 which mounts spaced snap bases 341. These snapbases 341 can connect with the snap studs 502 of the removable liner 500to mount the removable liner inside the outer garment 320.

FIG. 24 shows the bottom (cuff) of the left leg 338 of the outergarment. As seen in FIG. 25, the bottom 342 of the left leg 338 of theouter shell is sewn by stitching 343 to an upwardly-extending flap 344which mounts an inner strip 345 of hook fasteners and two inner tabs 346mounting snap fastener bases 347. The inner strip 345 of hook fastenersconnects with a strip 431 of loop fasteners on the inner barrier layerto the outer shell (providing a means to inspect between the outer shelland the inner barrier layer when desired). The snap fastener bases 347are connectable with the snap studs 506 of the removable liner 500 toproperly mount the left leg 504 of the removable liner in the left legof the outer garment. A strip 348 of fabric is sewn between the outershell and the flap 344 by the stitching 343, the upper edge of whichdefines a channel 349. A stretch cord 350 extends through the channel349, through a releasable friction clamp 351 attached to the outershell, and through an opening 352 in the outer shell. Pulling on thefree end of the stretch cord 350 will cause the strip 348 to tightentowards the leg of a wearer (or against the outside of a boot worn bythe wearer) to inhibit passage of hazardous materials upwardly into theleft leg. The right leg of the outer garment is similarly constructed.

FIG. 27 shows an alternative removable liner 600 which can be used inthe outer garment 320. It differs from the removable liner 500 insofaras the bottom of its legs are made of the same material as that of theinner barrier liner 430 and are formed with bottom straps 606 and 607.The bottoms of the legs are intended to be located within boots to beworn by the wearer, with the straps 606 and 607 positioned on the innersole of the boots. A wearer can very quickly don the trousers 350(containing the removable liner 600) by extending his legs into theremovable liner and his feet into the boots, all in one motion.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed in detail modifications therein can be made and still fallwithin the scope of the appended claims. For example, the inner barrierlayer can be laminated to the outer shell instead of connected theretoby stitching if desired. The coat and trousers of the inventivetwo-piece suit need not include the respective removable liner to beusable, depending on the operations the wearer intends to be conduct.

1. A protective suit for use in environments which may contain hazardouschemical and or biological agents, said protective suit including a coatand trousers, said trousers including an outer garment comprised of anouter shell and an inner barrier layer, said outer shell defining awaist portion, a hip portion, left and right leg portions, and a waistcollar which extends upwardly from said waist portion, and said coatincluding an outer garment comprised of an outer shell and an attachedinner barrier layer, said outer shell including a back panel, a leftfront panel, a right front panel, a left sleeve, a right sleeve, and acoat collar, said outer garment including a manually-operable bottomclosure mechanism for tightening said inner barrier layer towards thetorso of a wearer and against the waist collar of said trousers whenboth said coat and said trousers are worn by a wearer so as to inhibitcontaminated environmental air or liquids from entering the closed coat.2. A protective suit according to claim 1, wherein said bottom closuremechanism includes a first releasable friction clamp attached to saidleft front panel, a second releasable friction clamp attached to saidright front panel, and a first stretch cord which extends from saidfirst releasable friction clamp, between said outer shell and said innerbarrier layer and through said second releasable friction clamp.
 3. Aprotective suit according to claim 2, including a left pouch attached tosaid left front panel to define a left pocket between said left pouchand said left front panel, and a right pouch attached to said rightfront panel to define a right pocket between said right pouch and saidright front panel, and wherein said first releasable friction clamp islocated in said left pocket and said second releasable friction clamp islocated in said right pocket.
 4. A protective suit according to claim 3,including a strip attached to said bottom edge of said outer shell whichis located between said outer shell and said inner barrier layer andextends from behind said left pouch to behind said right pouch, saidstrip defining a channel through which said stretch cord extends.
 5. Aprotective suit according to claim 1, wherein said coat collar includesa center panel, a front flap attached to periphery of said center panel,and a rear flap attached to the periphery of said center panel so as toprovide a hood storage chamber therebetween, and a hood with throat tablocated in said hood storage chamber, said hood and throat tab beingdeployable from said hood storage chamber to cover the head and neck ofa wearer and the face mask of an air supply apparatus worn by the wearerand inhibit exposure to hazardous environmental air or liquids.
 6. Aprotective suit according to claim 5, wherein a front edge of the hooddefines a channel, wherein third and fourth releasable friction elementsare attached to said hood on opposite sides thereof, and wherein asecond stretch cord extends through said hood channel and said third andfourth releasable friction clamps so that pulling ends of said secondstretch cord will cause the front edge of said hood to tighten towardthe forehead of the wearer and against a face mask worn by the wearer.7. A protective suit according to claim 6, wherein said throat tab isconnected to a side of said hood and includes a first releasableattachment means at a free end thereof, said throat tab beingpositionable between and against a face mask worn by the wear and thefront left and right panels of the outer shell, and the first releasableattachment means being releasably attached to a second releasableattachment means on a back side of the hood.
 8. A protective suitaccording to claim 1, including a left cuff closure member attached toan end of the left sleeve of the coat outer shell, said left cuffclosure member including a first tubular member made of the samematerial as said inner barrier layer and a first belt which can tightensaid first tubular element towards a left arm of a wearer or a wristletof a left sleeve of a removable liner mounted within the outer garmentand thereby inhibit entry of contaminated air or liquids into the leftsleeve.
 9. A protective suit according to claims 8, wherein said firsttubular member defines a first channel therearound, wherein said firstbelt extends through said first channel, and including a first buckle,one end of said first belt being fixedly attached to said first buckleand a second end adjustably extending through said first buckle andgripped thereby.
 10. A protective suit according to claim 9, including aright cuff closure member attached to an end of the right sleeve of thecoat outer shell, said right cuff closure member including a secondtubular member and a second belt which can tighten the second tubularmember towards a right arm of a wearer or a wristlet of a right sleeveof a removable liner mounted within the outer garment and inhibit entryof contaminated air or liquids into the right sleeve..
 11. A protectivesuit according to claim 10, wherein said second tubular member definessecond channel therearound, wherein said second belt extends throughsaid second channel, and including a second buckle, one end of saidsecond belt being fixedly attached to said second buckle and a secondend extending through and being adjustably gripped by said secondbuckle.
 12. A protective suit according to claim 1, wherein said backpanel of said coat defines an upper edge and a bottom edge, wherein saidleft front panel defines an upper edge, a side edge and a bottom edge,and said right front panel defines an upper edge, a side edge and abottom edge, and wherein said inner barrier layer is sewn to the upperedges of said back, left front and right front panels the side edges ofsaid left and right front panels and the bottom edges of said left andright front panels.
 13. A protective suit according to claim 12, whereinsaid inner barrier layer is releasably attached to the bottom edge ofsaid back panel.
 14. A protective suit according to claim 12, whereinsaid left sleeve defines a cuff end and said right sleeve defines a cuffend, and wherein said inner barrier layer is sewn to said left and rightsleeves at the cuff ends thereof.
 15. A protective suit according toclaim 1, including a removable coat liner mounted within said outergarment of said coat, said removable coat liner being made of a heatprotective material.
 16. A protective suit according to claim 1, whereinthe left leg of the outer shell of said trousers includes a bottomclosure means and the right leg of the outer shell of said trousersincludes a bottom closure means.
 17. A protective suit according toclaim 16, including a removable liner for the trousers mounted withinsaid outer garment of said trousers, said removable trouser liner beingmade of a heat protective material.
 18. A protective suit according toclaim 17, wherein said removable liner for the trousers includes legshaving bottom portions made of the same material as is used for saidinner barrier layer, and said bottom portions include straps forplacement within boots to be worn by the wearer.
 19. A protective coatfor a two-piece hazardous material-protective suit, said coat includingan outer shell made of a flame-resistant material and an inner layermade of a material which is resistant to moisture, chemical agents andbiological agents, said outer shell including a back panel, a left frontpanel, a right front panel, a left sleeve and a right sleeve, a bottomclosure mechanism for manually tightening a bottom of the coat towardsthe torso of a wearer, and cuff closure mechanisms at the ends of therespective left and right sleeves for inhibiting hazardous materialentry into the respective left and right sleeves.
 20. Trousers for atwo-piece hazardous material-protective suit, said trousers including anouter garment and an inner layer, said outer garment including an outershell made of a flame-resistant material and said inner layer made of amaterial resistant to moisture, chemical agents and biological agents,said outer shell including a waist portion, a hip portion, a left leg,and a right leg, and including cuff closure mechanisms at the bottoms ofthe respective left and right legs for inhibiting airborne and liquidhazardous material entry into the left and right legs.